Temperature controlling device



May 30, 1933- H. A. SOVERHILL 1,911,403

TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K V 2/ I T I 1 20a 2/ 20;" Z/ 20 Patented May 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED- STATES HARVEY A. SOVERIIILL, MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THERMAL UNITBCOH- PANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed November 21, 1927. Serial No. 234,650.

M invention relates to temperature controlling devices for household, commercial, or other similar uses and has to do more especially with a novel form of heat-transfer unit.

One of the objects of my invention is to i provide a heat-transfer unit which is simplein construction, easy to manufacture and which is adapted to give maximum eflicienc consistently over lon periods of time wit a minimum of loss ue to heat penetration and induction, all of which alsocheapens the cost of operation to a highly appreciable extent.

Another object is to provide a heat-trans fer unit which is cast as an integral piece at a single operation, such unit including a plurality of thin extended and slightly s aced heat conduction surfaces to which the air is subjected for heat transferbycom vection. To this end, I employ in' each transfer unit a suitable conduit having a plurality of thin, laterall projecting, par-v allel and closely located ns or air contact plates between and over which the air asses; and in making such integral casting I employ a ductile metal of high conductivity and thermal efficiency and which is capable of withstanding distortion without breakage and which is of such;char acter as to flow readily castin operation.

Ad itional objects are to provide aheat transfer unit which is adapted not only to quick and ready cooling the air but also to heating of the same with the same degree of efliciency; to provide an inte ral unit which will notbe structurally a ected by heat changes; to provide an exceptionally light weight unit which may not only be em loyed in connection with stationary insta lations but may be used in portable sets which, for example, may be moved from room to room in the homepr from oflice to office toregulate the air condition as desired;

to provide units which are also by the veryand uniforn ly during the through and against such units in a uniform manner and at a uniform velocity to insure a full and uniform heat transfer effect.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,-

Figure l'is a perspective view showing the front of a temperature controlling devicev embodying my invention;

Figure 2'is a perspective vlew showing the rear of the device of Fig.1;

Figure 3 is a plan perspective view of a section of ,oneof the heat-transfer units em pkiyed in the structure of Fig. 1; igure 4 is a vertical section taken lengthwise of the structure of Fig. 3 substantially on the line 4-4 of that figure; Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of F g, r,

igures 5, 7 and 8 show different shapes which ma be the trans er unit.

My invention is readily adaptable to either a stationary structure which may be mounted in the wall' of a room or building, or to a structure which may be mounted upon a condition wherein similar problems are to be taken care of.

In the form shown in Fi s. 1 to 5, inclusive, I employ a rectangular -shaped frame or cabinet 10 adapted to enc ose a plurality of heat-transfer units 11 which are carried by and connected one with the other at opposite ends by headers 12 and 13. These headers mayv be connected to the several units in any desired manner, but referably b the universal couplings 14 1 ,and 2 which engage, in a manner we 1' understood, suitable threaded extensions on the res ective units 11.

0' pass the air through the heat transfer units, I employ a fan or blower device 15 driven by anelectric motor 16 carried by a braced support 17. This fan is locatedat therear (Fig. 2) and the rear wall of the cabinet frame is provided with a suitable circular opening 18 through which the air passes from the fan. The front part of the given the fins associated with portable support, or, in fact, to any other than the electric motor desired, the fan or other'blower means maybe driven by any desired motive means other 16-the main purpose to provide some eflicient means for being causing the medium to be conditioned to pass In T to and through the heat-transfer units. this respect, while I show and describe my invention as applied to the tem erature conditioning of air, it will be readiiy understood that the medium to be treated may be any other fluid pressure or gas or may be a liquid, or similar substance, which may be conditioned for a purpose other than control of the air temperature.

InFigs. 3, 4 and 5 I show one form of heat-transfer unit which forms an important part of my invention. The several units used in any particular installation, for example, the arran ement shown in Fi 1, are

i all preferably i entical in constructlon and noted that this tube is flat-like,-

but one of them will be described. The unit "comprises a central and relatively1 thickthroug ut its ig. 3 it will be having much greater len h than width and is provided with an ob ong o ning 21. The tube is wider at one end-t an the other to provide inwardly and forwardly (away from the fan as seen in Fig. 2) taperin side walls for a purpose which will be re erred to more specifically hereinafter. A eral bridge members 20" are integrally carried by the tube to add strength andrigidity. A plurality of rectangularly shaped thm and fiat fins 22 are cast integrally with and enwalled tube 20 extending? length. By reference to tirely around the tube 20 so that there is a heat-transfer of the tube.

ortion on the opposite sides ese fins for the purpose of stregfth have a cross-section tapering outwar y mm the tube and are equall spaced in parallel relation. To aid in t e heattransfer efiect (either plus or minus) to be described further, these fins are preferably located rather close together as indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The ends of the tube 20 are extended to rovide a substantial thick-.

ness ofthe meta at such ends which serves as an iute a1 strengthening and sulpporting part for e projeetmg ends of the e foregoing unit-construction is, preferably, cast from an alloy including approximately silicon 13% and aluminum 87%.

ese percenta illustration an it wi be understood that they maybe varied and other elements added plurality of lat-.

are lgiven only by way of a casting as shown in Fig. 3 including thin,

latgrally projecting and slightly spaced fins an a arrangement of the fins and tube provides a very strong structure capable of withstanding maximum pressures. The fins with their edgewisex relation to thetube strengthen the entire structure in a manner similar to strenghthening bands surrounding the tube. he great number of equally spaced fins provide a considerable thermal area with which the air, or other medium,.must pass in contact. The rearwardly tapered shape of the tube wall provides a laterally flaring space between the ad'acent fins whereby the air which enters at t e front indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3) and ten s to expand will be compensated 1n such a way that such central tube portion. The integral expansion or other action will not affect ma I terially the velocity of the air or medium is subjecte contact with the fins to insure the roper thermal action. The vertical extension or rib 20 at the rear end of the tube (adjacent the fan) not only strengthens the unit but also serves as an air directional means which tends to minimize frictional resistance in a manner which willbe well understood.

The operation of the structure so far described is as follows: If the air, say in a room, is to be heated, steam, or hot water, or any other suitable heating agent, is passed from a source (not shown) through plpe 23 into the header 12 and thence through the several tubes 20 to the header 13 from which it is carried. by a suitable conduit back to the source or some other desired point. As this action is taking place the fan 15 forces the air through the assembled units 11 between the fins 22 toward and ast the' shutter 19. The heating agent w ich is passed through th'etubes 20 quickly heats such tubes, such heat being rapidl conducted to the extreme outer edges of't e fins 22, and the continuous application of the heatin agentmaintains these arts in the desire heated condition. The s 22 divide the 1mit into small compartments, each receivin a portion of the medium to be treated an as the air. (the medium in this instance} passes t ro fins, e heat from t e fins and tube is transtime it is heated to plained, the laterally flared passages between the fins provide, in effect, expansion compartments which maintain a uniform velocpassed entirely therethrough it is -1 ty flow of the air whereby the full benefit h these comlpartments between the '120 1 the desired'e'xtent. As above ex.-

ing,

rent in connection with previously known devices (for exam le,

devices wherein the tube and fins may e separate parts secured together as by soldering, or cement, or pressure contact or the like, and where, as

will be readily appreciated, the heat loss must be reat due to penetration and induction).

e structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may also be used for cooling the air in the room. In that event, any desired form of cooling or refrigerant agent is directed from a source, (not shown) to the header 13 through the tubes 20 to :the header 12'and back to the source or some other desired point. In that case, the operation of the unit is identical with that above described with the exception that the result is a 'coolor heat minus effect, instead of a heating, or heat plus, effect. It will be readily appreciated that, if desired, the structure above described may be readily converted to the form of a transportable unit which may be wheeled or carried from room to room with suitable connections for plugging into electric'wallsockets so that the device maybe used to great advantage in regulating the room temperatureunder all conceiv-' able conditions. Or, if desired, my form of heat transfer unit may take such form as to be used as an air cooling condenser section of a refrigerating system wherein the advantages to be gained, as above explained, will be readily appreciated.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I show different forms which may be given the fins 22. As shown in Fig. 6, these fins may be waved or corrugated uniformly to provide an irregular passage through and between the fins to shown, in

create a turbulence which causes a stirring action of the air so as to more thoroughly, evenly and quickly heat the entire volume of air throughout the entire space between the fins. .For a similar purpose the fins may be given the shape shown in Fig. 8, or they ma be given the arcuate or curved form such as shown in Fig. 7. In fact, the fins may be given any desired shape without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The metal which I preferably employ in casting is of such character that the fins 'ma be cast with straight sides as ig. 3 and thereafter formed to the irregular shapes of Figs. 6, 7 and 8; or they may be formed to the shapes of the latter figures during the casting operation.

My method of forming these units as an integral casting includes, in addition to the foregoing, the use of a sand mould which is formed in a well known manner to include suitable cavities and cores to give proper shape to the tube 20 and fins 22. This mould is baked to harden before the castmould, the metal being of a character to flow readily, and a complete unit, as shown in Figs. .3, 4 and 5 and of the desiredsize, is completely formed and ready for use without subsequent treatment other than cleaning of the cast surfaces and threading of joints.

While I have shown and described several forms of my invention, it will be understood that various other and further changes may be made in details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A heat transfer unit fora device of the character described comprising a flattened tube having its opposite side wallsconverging from one end gradually inward, providing a similarly shaped tube passage and a plurality of separate laterally extending and parallel spaced thin plates cast integrally with and around said tube throughout its length, said plates forming with eachother and said tube lateral, gradually flaring passages. exteriorly of said tube throu h which the medium to be treated is passe and which causes the air passing through said passages to flow at a uniform rate at all times regardless of expansion, and other effects, due to heating.

2. A thermal unit for a device of the the character described comprising a tube having its outer side wall surfaces tapered inwardly from one end for receiving a temperature controlling agent, andmeans associated with said tube for forming at opposite sides thereof a plurality of open ended compartments, each said compartment being gradually flared laterally from its inlet end to the other end. I

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, an air blower device associated with said frame, means for driving said blower, means for varying the temperature of the air delivered by said blower, including passages through which the air is directed and which are shaped to compensate, for air expansion to insure a has passed through said passages.

, oblong member for'mingi 30 1 5. In a device of the character described, the combination of means for feeding the temperature controlling medium to be treated, compartmental means through. which said medium is passed, said latter means having a tubular part formed by the walls of said compartmental means for receiving a heating agent, said compartmental means being arranged to compensate for expansion of the temperature-controlling medium and to carry said medium therethrough at a substantially uniform velocity regardless of expansion or other similar velocity changing conditions.

i 6. In a device of thevcharacter described, the combination of a plurality of separate and independent heat-transfer units, each said unit comprising a single integral cast piece including a central hollow part serving as a conduit, and thin-walled and parallel-spaced wings extending around said hollow part at equal intervals along the same; a sup 'ort for said units; and means at each end oi all said units for connecting said hollow parts of the several units to a common source and to each other.

7. In a heat-transfer unit for a device of the character described, a vertical hollow a single taperwalled chamber; thin in -section plates extending around said member and rejecting outwardly and horizontally there rom, said plates being located in slightlyspaced and parallel relation through the length of said member and forming with said member open-ended compartments flarin from one 4 end to the other; andribs at t e opposite ber,

ends of said member serving to support and strengthen, in part, said plates and to aid in directing air through between said plates on op osite sides of said member; said memfates and ribs being cast as an integral piece.

-In testimony whereof, Ihave subscribed my name.

HARVEY A. SOVERHILL. 

